Acclaimed Film Music Composer Enters 'Halloween Hell' with Director Ed Hunt & Oscar Nominee Eric Roberts

    LOS ANGELES, CA, August 15, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mark Daniel Dunnett, a prolific film music composer from Toronto, has been selected as lead composer for "Halloween Hell," a feature horror film directed by Ed Hunt ("Bloody Birthday," "Plague") and starring Eric Roberts ("The Dark Knight," "The Expendables").

The film follows the story of six reality TV show contestants who aim to survive Halloween night locked in a studio with a possessed devil doll that unleashes a demon from hell. Hosted by a psycho who believes he's Count Dracula (Roberts), the survivors of the pay-per-view event will be rewarded $100,000.

Written by Hunt, a two-time Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival award winner, produced by Herb Linsey ("Neon Maniacs," "Zapped Again!") and filmed primarily at Movie Tech Studios in Van Nuys, Calif., the movie is slated for a limited theatrical Halloween release with video distribution thereafter.

"I believe the story of Halloween Hell and the movie's and script's content will strongly entertain a definite segment of the movie viewing audience," said Hunt. "I want to entertain that audience. I think they will especially like the demon and the extreme, evil nature of the villain, Dracula. I really, really like Eric Roberts' 'take no prisoners' performance in that role."

Co-starring with Roberts, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role ("Runaway Train") are Evan Bittencourt ("Surfmen"), Lola Klimenteva ("Keanu and Nic's Excellent Adventure"), Elizabeth Peterson ("Devil's Night"), Paul Stanko ("The Inhaler"), Christina Trevizo ("Photo Finish") and Sebastien Charmant ("Last Friday Night").

The film's score, with lead composing from Dunnett ("My Funny Valentine" starring Tom Payne and Pippa Black) and additional composing from Michael 'Pugita' Kobayashi ("No Asians, No Fats, No Fems"), will blend differing themes, elements and instrumentation to enhance the cinematic atmosphere.

"It was really great to come back to the horror genre," said Dunnett, who has composed for more than 40 films including "Boardwalk Poets" starring Daniel Baldwin and "Love's Devotion Forever" starring Jay Thomas. "We have a few different themes - the teenager characters, the demon doll, a voodoo lady and Eric playing Dracula. There's a lot of strings, percussion, some electronic and a lot of undertone, new music. It's so important that music will make the audience feel what they see on screen. I'm trying to keep it organic, but there are electronic elements mixed with synthesizer and strings. I'm also using an organ with low strings to give Eric that subtle theme."

Hunt said, "Mark is a real pro and especially in action sequences, his music is right in sync with the action, emphasizing and supporting everything important, and I really like the quality and emotion of his music."

Dunnett's career is highlighted by many critical roles as music composer, including for television, film, commercials and multimedia such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "C.S.I. Vegas," "The Dr. Oz Show" and Luke Hupton's "27, Memory Lane," which will hit film festivals this fall. He has composed additional music for the Warner Bros. blockbuster, "The Matrix Reloaded" starring Keanu Reeves, Paramount's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie and MGM's "Rollerball" starring Chris Klein.

Dunnett has also received international renown for composing a full live recorded orchestral piece for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and a national commercial for Woodland Worldwide, a distinguished apparel brand headquartered in India.

He attended and studied music at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Boston's famed Berklee College of Music. Dunnett's outstanding guitar instrumental composition was recognized and featured in Guitar World Magazine.

For more information, visit www.maddscoremusic.com and www.imdb.com/title/tt3598196/combined

Watch the "Halloween Hell" trailer here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2bSdl5oLQs and its promo reel here: www.vimeo.com/91574116

Mark Daniel Dunnett is a film and television composer from Toronto.

# # #